Ever wondered if your corporate skills could translate into a thriving consulting business? Many professionals dream of leaving the corporate world but struggle to identify their unique value proposition. Aimee Accinno, founder of Systems Made Simple and certified SYSTEMologist, proves it’s not only possible—it’s profitable.
After 22 years at Verizon in various management roles, Aimee transformed her corporate experience into a specialized process consulting practice serving custom home builders. Her journey from telecommunications manager to sought-after systems consultant offers valuable insights for anyone considering a similar transition.
The Corporate Comfort Zone Challenge
Aimee felt trapped in a cycle of unfulfilled potential after two decades at Verizon. Despite her success in various management roles—from sales manager to call center operations—something was missing.
“It just always felt like there was something more I wanted to do. I just wanted to be able to go out and work for myself,” she reflects. “I wanted to be able to make a bigger difference in the world and I wasn’t seeing that or feeling that where I was.”
The challenge wasn’t her capabilities. Throughout her corporate career, she naturally gravitated toward systematic approaches, creating step-by-step instructions and maintaining organized processes. The problem was recognizing these skills as marketable assets.
The Lightbulb Moment That Changed Everything
Aimee’s breakthrough came through an unexpected path: online business management. After leaving corporate without a clear plan, she began working with small business owners as a virtual operations manager. This experience revealed a critical pattern.
“At the outset, they looked very successful, but behind the scenes, a lot of chaos, not a lot of consistency or repeatability, a huge need for systems,” she discovered. “That’s kind of when the light bulb went off in my head—there’s a possibility for me to niche down and just work on systems with these business owners.”
This realization led her to search for systems-focused resources, ultimately discovering the SYSTEMology methodology. Within 24 hours of listening to the book, she was exploring certification options.
Building Expertise Through Strategic Implementation
Aimee’s approach to building her process consulting practice involved several key strategies:
- Partnered with experienced consultants to gain confidence while learning client acquisition and conversion
- Focused on skill development first rather than trying to master marketing and delivery simultaneously
- Leveraged her corporate background in operations and facilitation management
- Used beta clients from her personal network to gain practical experience
- Applied systematic thinking to every aspect of her business development
- Embraced continuous learning through the SYSTEMology community and training resources
Remarkable Results Through Niche Specialization
Today, Aimee runs Systems Made Simple, specializing exclusively in custom home builders—a niche she discovered by accident but embraced wholeheartedly. Her client load has grown to six one-on-one implementations with a waiting list for new clients.
“There are so many businesses that need this type of work. You’re not going to be really struggling to get clients,” she notes. The specialization has proven particularly powerful: “There’s really no business owner that I’ve ever chatted with that says, ‘I don’t need systems.’”
Her expertise now extends beyond traditional process documentation to include AI-powered solutions, creating knowledge banks and optimizing workflows using platforms like Procore and BuilderTrend.
Key Insights for Aspiring Process Consultants
Aimee’s journey offers several practical lessons for professionals considering a similar transition:
- “Experience is what will build confidence”—don’t wait for perfect knowledge before starting
- “If you don’t have any experience starting your own business, pair with someone else while you hone your skills”
- Niche down into something that genuinely fascinates you, even if it wasn’t your original plan
- “Marketing is a system, sales is a system”—apply systematic thinking to business development
- ‘’Leverage AI and technology’’ to enhance service delivery and efficiency rather than viewing them as threats
The transformation required patience and strategic thinking. As Aimee puts it, “You just have to trust that you’re gonna do the best job that you can. And with every client that I worked with, I gained even more confidence.”
Her success story demonstrates that corporate skills, when properly identified and systematically applied, can create substantial consulting opportunities in underserved markets.
Ready to Transform Your Corporate Experience Into Consulting Success?
If you’re considering a transition from corporate to consulting, or you’re already helping businesses but want to systemize your approach, explore the SYSTEMologist Certification Program. Learn the proven framework that helped Aimee build a thriving niche practice. Start your free 30-day trial of systemHUB to access the tools and templates that can accelerate your consulting business.
